Metal clip.



PATBNTED JAN. 13

W. J. BAKER. METAL CLIP. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 18, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

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WILLIAM J. BAKER, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY.

METAL cu SPEOIFICATIONforming partof Letters Patent N 0. 718,301, datedJanuary 13, 1903. Application filed March 18, 1902- Serial No. 98,868.(No model.)

My invention is in the nature of an improved sheet-metai clip deviceadapted for connecting bed-spring wires; and itprimarily seeks toprovide a device of this character of a very simple construction,capable of being economically stamped out of sheet metal, which can bereadily applied for use and which will effectively serve for itsintended purposes.

Myinvention comprehends in its generic nature a sheet-metal clip havingat one side a plurality of right-angle prongs adapted to be bent up overone of the two wires to be joined, a prong at the other side adapted tobe bent over the other wire in an opposite direction and to close downin a plane with and between the bent-over ends of the opposing prongs ortongues.

In its more complete nature my invention includes, in addition to theoppositely-disposed prongs or tongues adapted to close over the two wirestrands, as before stated, supplemental prongs struck up from the bodymidway the prongs at the opposite edges adapted to project up betweenthe opposing surfaces of the two wire strands and act as a supplementalclamp and as a means for hold: ing the two wires properly separated andin their place while they are being clamped together; and in its moresubordinate features my invention consists in certain details ofconstruction and peculiar combination of parts, all of which willhereinafter be fully described, and specifically pointed out in theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improved clipdevice inan operative condition. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the)same. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the outer prongs for engaging thestraight wire member not clinched and the preferred position of theintermediate prongs being shown. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of thepreferred form of my clip. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cut blank withthe prongs or tongues unbent.

Figs. 6 and '7 are cross-sections on the lines 6 6 and 7 7 ofFig. 1.

In the practical use of my invention the same, while especially adaptedfor joining bed-springs together and the stiffener wire or frame thatusually surrounds the nest of springs, it can also be convenientlyutilized for connecting two straight wire strands.

In the drawings I have illustrated the upper coil-section of abed-spring in connection with a stiffener or straight wire section, thetwo being designated by A and B, respectively.

I deem it proper to here state that I am aware that clip members struckup from sheet metal having tongues to engage the opposing wire strandshave heretofore been provided; but such devices, so far as-I know, havefailed to give all the results desired, for the reason that no specialmeans has been provided for keeping the two opposing wires in theirproper place while being clamped together and for holding the wiresapart and from rubbing against each other, and by reason of such faultyjoining of the two wires the pressing down of one spring and thetwisting and working of its clamped portion will soon loosen the outsideprongs and tongues and render the same defective.

In my construction of wire clip or fastener device the same consists ofa body stamped up from sheet metal into a blank form which has the shapeshown in Fig. 5, by reference to which it will be noticed the sameincludes a rectangular portion a, whose opposite edges (indicated by a)are in parallel planes. At

a is slitted, as at of, to provide bendable 'members a the-purpose ofwhich will presently appear.

In the completed form my clip has the shape best shown in Fig. 4:, byreference to which it will be noticed at one side it has a singleright-angle bent prong or tongue 2 and the opposite side two end prongs3 3, also bent up at right-angles from the body portion a, and at eachend it also has short vertical prongs at, disposed parallel to theprongs 2 and 3 and positioned about midway thereof in a transversedirection.

In the practical application of my improved clip the same is fitted onthe two adjacent wire portions with the prongs or tongues 4 4 projectedup between the wires A and B, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 10. Themembers 2 and 3 are then bent over the wires A and B, the member 2closing over the wire A and the members 3 over the wire B, (see Fig. 2,)the prongs 4 4 acting as bearings for each wire strand to oppose thepressure in opposite directions exerted on the wire strands by theirrespective clamping-pron s 2 and 3.

By reason of the peculiar correlation of the prongs or tongues 2, 3, andat the wires A and B are securely held in their proper positionrelatively to each other while being clamped and from contact with eachother, thereby reducing the danger of the two wires during unequalstrain thereon from pulling apart from their clamping-tongues. Further,a larger bearing-surface is provided for the wires than would be thecase were the prongs 4 4: omitted. Furthermore, by having the prongs 44, that hold the wires apart, arranged in connection with the clampingmembers 3 2, as shown, the clip can be readily applied either With thetwo prong sides over the curved or straight wire or the one prong sidethereover, as may be most convenient. This latter feature I deem a veryadvantageous one, in that considerable time is saved in putting on theclips, as no special care is required to specially apply either side.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is-

1. As a new article; a clip-blank, comprising a flat sheet-metal bodyformed with a central bendable extension at one edge, a bendableextension at each end projecting from the opposite edge, the edge havingthe central bendable extension also having a slit at each end parallelwith the ends and at a point opposite the end extensions on the opposingedge, all being arranged substantially as shown and for the purposesdescribed.

2. A fastening means of the character described, comprising incombination with a curved wire strand and a straight wire strand; a clipmember consisting of a sheet-metal body having a central extension atone edge bendable over the curved wire strand, a pair of extensions onthe other edge, one at each end adapted to bend over the straight Wirestrand, the said body also having turned-up members, one at each end, atthe edge having the central extension and adapted to extend up betweenthe two wire strands and against the straight wire strand, all beingarranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

WILLIAM J. BAKER.

Witnesses:

HENRY M. MAHER, JOHN MosPnNs.

